Why state police should be implemented after 2027 elections — Peter Obi

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has urged that the implementation of the newly passed State Police Bill be postponed until after the 2027 general elections, warning that the proposed policing structure could be manipulated for political purposes if adequate constitutional safeguards are not put in place.

Obi made the call in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday, describing the passage of the State Police Bill by the National Assembly as a major legislative milestone but expressing concerns over what he described as flaws in the legislative process and the absence of sufficient mechanisms to prevent abuse.

According to him, Nigeria’s highly centralised policing structure has long been considered inadequate for a country of its size and diversity.

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“The recent passage of the State Police Bill by the National Assembly marks a significant legislative milestone in addressing a long-standing demand of the Nigerian people.

“For years, many of us, alongside security experts and regional stakeholders, have consistently argued that a highly centralised policing structure is fundamentally unsuitable for a country as vast, diverse, and complex as Nigeria. However, the legislative and constitutional implementation appears shaky and raises legitimate concerns,” he said.

Obi argued that the process leading to the passage of the bill lacked adequate public participation, insisting that legislation of such national importance should have involved extensive consultations.

“The process should involve greater community participation. Policing should be more visible at the local government and community levels. The mechanism for passing the law appears highly disorganised, with no public hearing on such a sensitive issue.

“Indeed, the rush to enact the law without proper legislative procedures fuels suspicion among many observers about the political motives behind it,” he stated.

The former Anambra State governor said his major concern was the possibility that state police could be used by governors to intimidate political opponents, suppress opposition activities, and influence election outcomes.

“The greatest concern does not arise from logistical issues; it stems from history. There is a widespread, justifiable fear that state police forces could become instruments in the hands of governors. The suspicion is that a state-controlled police force could be weaponised to suppress political rivals, disrupt opposition rallies, and manipulate elections,” he said.

To guard against such abuses, Obi called for the establishment of independent oversight institutions insulated from executive interference before state police become operational.

“For state policing to evolve from a risky political gamble into a genuine security solution, the law must not only permit states to establish police forces but also clearly provide for independent oversight bodies, such as a state-level Police Service Commission that is entirely free from executive influence, to ensure that policing serves the public interest rather than the interests of the ruling elite,” he said.

Obi further expressed doubts that the current administration would resist the temptation to use state policing to influence the 2027 general elections.

“Going by what Nigerians have seen so far, there is no guarantee that this administration can resist the temptation to take advantage of state policing to influence the 2027 general election by proxy. In view of that possibility and the danger it poses to the polity, it is necessary to defer its implementation until after the general election,” he stated.

The National Assembly recently passed the State Police Bill as part of broader constitutional reforms aimed at decentralising policing and strengthening internal security across the country.